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Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rashes
These lectures are not meant to replace your physician and are simply provided as
a free educational service to all our visitors. If you feel that you have a
skin problem, please see your doctor.
Poison ivy and poison oak rashes are caused by allergy to the juices of these
plants - called Rhus plants. You don't have to come in direct contact with the
leaves, roots, or branches of Rhus plants to get the rash. The plant juice can
reach your skin indirectly when you touch clothing or a pet that carries the
plant juice.
Like other allergies, Thus allergy is acquired; you're not born with it. While
some lucky people never become allergic to Rhus plants, most persons become
sensitized at some time and remain allergic. Unfortunately, there's no way to
desensitize persons allergic to Rhus plants. The many drops, tablets, and
injections that supposedly produce immunity are of little value. Some have
caused unpleasant side effects. We don't recommend them.
Contagion
Your poison ivy rash is not contagious. The fluid in the blisters does not
spread the rash. Rhus doesn't appear immediately after exposure to the plant
juice, but only after a time called the latent period. This latent period
between exposure to the plant and appearance of the rash may be as short as
four hours or as long as 10 days, depending on individual sensitivity and the
amount of plant contact. Sometimes more rash appears after treatment has begun.
These new patches are areas that had a longer latent period.
Prevention
The only way to prevent Rhus rash is to avoid contact with the plant juice. It
is traditional advice to wash with strong soap after poison ivy or poison oak
exposure. This does no harm, but in order to prevent a rash, you have to wash
within 15 minutes of exposure. If you can do so, simply wash with water and
mild soap.
Anytime severe itching persists, use a product that is formulated in a
soothing, emollient base, such as Sarna Lotion - an excellent anti-itch lotion
that will provide immdediate relief of itchy skin. Sarna contains 0.5% each of
camphor and menthol to provide the immediate sensation of a cool anti itch
lotion. In those conditions that are characterized by chronic and recurrent
itchy skin, Sarna Lotion provides the relief to calm the irritating and
antagonizing symptom of itch.
For more on Common Skin Disorders,
click here.
For more topics, click here.
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